Proverbs 3

1 My son, forget not my law, and let thy heart keep my commandments.

My son, do not forget what I have taught you. Keep my commands in your inner being,

2 For they shall add to thee length of days, and years of life and peace.

because [if you obey them] you will live a long time and things will go well for you

3 Let not mercy and truth leave thee, put them about thy neck, and write them in the tables of thy heart:

Always faithfully love others and (be faithful/do what you say that you will do); doing those things [will cause others to be pleased with you]; it will be as though you are wearing a beautiful necklace. Keep those things in your mind/inner being.

4 And thou shalt And grace and good understanding before God and men.

If you do, God and people will approve of you and think highly of you [MTY].

5 Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon thy own prudence.

Trust in Yahweh completely, and do not rely on what you yourself understand.

6 In all thy ways think on him, and he will direct thy steps.

Always allow him to lead you. If you do that, he will (show you the right path/direct your life).

7 I Be not wise in thy own conceit: fear God, and depart from evil:

Do not be proud of being wise. [Instead], revere Yahweh and turn away from doing evil.

8 For it shall be health to thy navel, and moistening to thy bones.

If you do that, your body will be healthy/strong; it will be [like] medicine for you.

9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and give him of the first of all thy fruits:

Honor Yahweh by [what you do with] your money; and [by giving him] the first part of your harvest.

10 And thy barns shall be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall run over with wine.

If you do that, [you will have a good harvest]. Yahweh will fill your barns [with grain], and your vats/containers will be overflowing with [grape juice for making] wine.

11 My son, reject not the correction of the Lord: and do not faint when thou art chastised by him:

My son, when Yahweh disciplines/corrects you, do not despise it, and if he rebukes you, do not resent it.

12 For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth: and as a father in the son he pleaseth himself.

[I say that] because it is the people whom Yahweh loves that he corrects/reproves, [just] like parents correct/reprove their sons whom they love.

13 Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom and is rich in prudence:

[Yahweh] is pleased with those who become wise and have good understanding.

14 The purchasing thereof is better than the merchandise of silver, and her fruit than the chiefest and purest gold:

Being wise and having good understanding is worth more than silver, better than gold.

15 She is more precious than all riches: and all the things that are desired, are not to be compared with her.

Being wise is more precious than (jewels/precious stones); there is nothing that you could desire [that would be as valuable] as wisdom.

16 Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory.

On the one hand, wisdom [PRS] enables [you] to live a long life, and on the other hand, wisdom enables [you] to become rich and to be honored.

17 Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceable.

If [you] are wise, [your] life will be pleasant, and things will go well [for you].

18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and he that shall retain her is blessed.

Wisdom is [like] a tree that gives long life to those who [eagerly] take hold of it, and [Yahweh] is pleased with those who hold onto it tightly.

19 The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, hath established the heavens by prudence.

By his wisdom Yahweh created the earth, and by his understanding he put everything in the skies.

20 By his wisdom the depths have broken out, and the clouds grow thick with dew.

By his knowledge [he caused] the water that was beneath the earth to burst forth, and he caused rain to fall from the clouds.

21 My son, let not these things depart from thy eyes: keep the law and counsel:

My son, [always] keep doing things that are right and things that are smart. If you do that,

22 And there shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy mouth.

you will live [many years] and be honored and respected {people will honor and respect you}.

23 Then shalt thou walk confidently in thy way, and thy foot shall not stumble:

If you do what is right and wise, you will [be able to] walk safely, and you will not (stumble/do things that are wrong) [MET].

24 If thou sleep, thou shalt not fear: thou shalt rest, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

You will [be able to] lie down [at night] and not be afraid [of anything], and you will sleep peacefully.

25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, nor of the power of the wicked falling upon thee.

You will not be afraid that something disastrous will happen to you or that storms that strike the wicked will strike you,

26 For the Lord will be at thy side, and will keep thy foot that thou be not taken.

because you will be confident that Yahweh [will take care of you]. He will not let your foot be caught in a trap/snare.

27 Do not withhold him from doing good, who is able: if thou art able, do good thyself also.

If you are able to help people who deserve it, do not refuse to help them.

28 Say not to thy friend: Go, and come again: and tomorrow I will give to thee: when thou canst give at present.

If you are able to help someone you interact with, do not say, “Come back later; [perhaps] I can help you tomorrow.”

29 Practise not evil against thy friend, when he hath confidence in thee.

Do not make plans to harm those you interact with regularly, [because] they live near you, and they trust you.

30 Strive not against a man without cause, when he hath done thee no evil.

If someone has not harmed you, do not accuse him [by saying that he has harmed you].

31 Envy not the unjust man, and do not follow his ways:

Do not envy people who [obtain things by] violent actions, and do not imitate/do what they do.

32 For every mocker is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is with the simple.

[I say that] because Yahweh considers such people to be abominable/detestable; but he is a friend to [all] those who do what is right.

33 Want is from the Lord in the house of the wicked: but the habitations of the just shall be blessed.

Yahweh curses the families [MTY] of those who are wicked, but he blesses the families of those who are good/righteous.

34 He shall scorn the scorners, and to the meek he will give grace.

Yahweh makes fun of those who make fun [of others], but he kindly helps those who are humble.

35 The wise shall possess glory: the promotion of fools is disgrace.

Wise [people] will be honored {people will honor wise people}, but foolish people will be dishonored/disgraced.